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DRP Piper Youngest to Win Prestigious Award

The Durham Regional Police Pipes & Drums band recently competed in the North American Highland Games Championships in Maxville, Ontario. The band competed with more than 50 Highland bands in a number of solo and group performances throughout the two-day event. With thousands in attendance at this celebration of Highland culture, Durham Regional Police Service was well represented.

The Highland Games are a celebration of traditional Scottish and Celtic culture, with athletic and musical competitions held throughout the games. Highland music features the sounds of bagpipes and rolling snare, tenor and bass drums. While the DRP Pipes & Drums band competed in a number of performances, one performance in particular stood out. Twelve-year-old Michael Mulish Jr., a piper in the DRP Pipes & Drums band, competed solo in the Junior Amateur competition where he placed first. Michael also won the Pipe Major John T. MacKenzie award for being the youngest winning piper at the North American Championships.

DRP Pipes & Drums member Constable Mike Lasseter says, "Competing in Highland Games events across Ontario allows us to showcase our skills as a police service, but it also allows us to foster relationships with the youth in our community, encouraging them to try new things and persevere. It was nice to see Michael do so well at the event. He was very excited to win gold and the rest of our members are so proud of him. He represented our team well."

While the DRP Pipes & Drums band competes in events across the province, members also represent the service on a more local level, regularly marching and performing at community events, in parades, and at memorial services.

The DRP Pipes & Drums Band is always looking for new members and wants to encourage youth in the community to try something new. Youth with an interest in learning about the Scottish Highland culture and learning how to play bagpipes, snare, tenor or bass drums should contact Cst. Mike Lasseter at mlasseter@drps.ca.

The DRP Pipes & Drums Band will be competing next at the Fergus Scottish Festival in Fergus, Ontario on August 13, 2016.